CBC Graduating Student Spotlight: Nick Mortimore

Biochemistry BS & MCB BS Major, W.A. Franke Honors college student, Class of 2023

CBC Congratulates Nick Mortimore!

Nick was selected as a 2023 CBC Biochemistry Senior and a Ronald Gonzalez Wildcat Spirit Awardee.

I began my journey at the W.A. Franke Honors College of the University of Arizona in the fall of 2019.

Eager to get involved in life sciences research, I immediately joined the lab of Dr. Daniela Zarnescu where I studied the neurodegenerative illness ALS using a fruit fly model disease. As it was election season at this time, I also helped found the UArizona Students for Bernie club which was instrumental in building campus awareness of the presidential election.

I joined the Undergraduate Biology Research Program (UBRP) in my first summer over the pandemic, where I contributed to work that was published in the peer reviewed scientific literature.

In the time since that first summer, I was elected as the Pen Pal Coordinator and then later the President of the UBRP Ambassadors, and I can confidently say that my time in UBRP has been the most rewarding experience of my undergraduate career.

In my sophomore year, I became a CBC Ambassador and Peer Mentor, where I have enjoyed giving back to the department and helping new students make the most of their time on campus.

Finally, I was recently awarded the Beckman Scholarship, which has given me the incredible opportunity to do research in the lab of Dr. Ross Buchan studying the role of mRNA in facilitating protein-protein interactions.

I am so thankful for my wonderful professors, peers, and especially my advisors who have made my undergraduate experience more exciting and productive than I could have possibly imagined. Bear Down!